Severe infections in HIV-exposed uninfected infants: clinical evidence of immunodeficiency

J Trop Pediatr. 2010 Apr;56(2):75-81. doi: 10.1093/tropej/fmp057. Epub 2009 Jul 14.

Abstract

We describe the clinical and basic immunological findings of eight HIV-exposed uninfected infants hospitalized with serious infectious morbidity and referred for immunological evaluation. The median age at presentation was 5.5 (1.5-15) months. Infections included Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (three), cytomegalovirus colitis with perforation (one), Pseudomonas sepsis (two), hemorrhagic varicella (one) and Group A streptococcal meningitis and endocarditis (one). Five required intensive care, four for assisted ventilation and one for post-surgical care. Follow-up to 36 months suggested resolution of a transient immunodeficiency in two infants, one of whom had CD4 and the other B-cell depletion. Further studies are indicated in HIV-exposed uninfected infants.

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • HIV Infections* / transmission
  • HIV-1*
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host*
  • Infant
  • Infections / immunology*
  • Length of Stay
  • Morbidity
  • Pneumocystis carinii / isolation & purification
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors